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GOP Voters Want Rep. Elise Stefanik to Run Against Gov. Kathy Hochul, Siena Poll Shows
By: Luke Radel May 20, 2025 Updated 4 hrs ago 15

The U.S. representative for Rome and the North Country is the favorite to face off against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul next fall, as a majority of all voters say they want "someone else" to lead New York State, according to a survey released by Siena College on Tuesday.

The poll, conducted from May 12-15, asked registered Republican voters who they'll support in a hypothetical 2026 primary election for governor.
Stefanik was one of three options given to respondents, along with Rep. Mike Lawler from the Hudson Valley and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who have all expressed interest in running.

No Republican candidates have officially declared.

35% chose Stefanik, compared to 22% for Lawler and 11% for Blakeman
.
With over a year to go until a potential June 2026 primary, 30% of respondents said they don't know yet who they will back.
The show of support comes as Stefanik has said she's "strongly considering" a run for governor, which has remained elusive to Republicans in New York since George Pataki.

Stefanik has been publicly flirting with a statewide campaign for years.

Most recently, after her nomination to become President Trump's ambassador to the United Nations was pulled in April to shore up the thin margins in the House of Representatives to pass his agenda.

Hochul has increased her attacks on Stefanik in recent days, and when asked by reporters what she thought of a potential matchup, the governor responded, "Bring it on."

Privately, two Democrats familiar with Hochul's thinking told NEWSChannel 2 she'd rather face off against Stefanik than Lawler, who has positioned himself as a moderate and is viewed as a more formidable opponent in traditionally liberal New York.

Having run successfully in a lean-blue Hudson Valley district, Lawler has emphasized his ability to win over Democratic voters and his frequent appearances on national news outlets.

In an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins on April 30, Lawler said Stefanik's considerations "will have no impact on my decision."
He also pledged to make a final decision "by June."

A Republican source familiar with Stefanik's thinking told NEWSChannel 2 that this poll underestimates her chances in a potential primary and claimed Siena's polls "are consistently off in Upstate."

Still, Stefanik's favorability with all voters statewide is underwater by double digits, likely a result of her close ties to the president.
Trump is 21 points underwater in his favorability with New York voters in this survey.

Meanwhile, Hochul's favorable-unfavorable rating sits at 50-46%, but only 36% of all voters say they're prepared to re-elect her, compared with 55% who said they want "someone else," which has moved ten points in the wrong direction for the governor since the previous poll in April.

Only 51% of registered Democratic voters surveyed say they're prepared to re-elect Hochul, but her potential opponents in a Democratic primary are little known.
Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who has had a falling out with Hochul in recent months, has just 12% of Democratic voters on-board with a potential run.
Rep. Ritchie Torres, who represents the South Bronx and has also floated a bid, has 10% support.

Hochul leads the pack in a hypothetical primary with 46% backing her at this early stage, but 28% say they're still undecided.

https://www.wktv.com/news/gop-voters-want-rep-elise-stefanik-to-run-against-gov-kathy-hochul-siena-poll-shows/article_b83a1e6e-98c2-4739-883e-20b7e4bcbfa9.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwY2xjawKasm1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFycmREQ3ZjV1A4ckFQQ1ZNAR419RhSoEQFcwRQJFTwnBgtP1dvRTEr0BQbKV7A3-ZZnFcKyKuearvn4HCLqg_aem_NRd4IOoxXVFlD9Fb82BB4w